Art of distilling hydrocarbon oils



Jan. 29, 1935. e. w. WATTS El AL 1,989,389

ART DISTILLING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Feb. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 29, 1935. G. w. WATTS ET AL 1,989,389

ART OF DISTILLING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V A 1 $7 Y; 45 42 Patented Jan. 29, 1935 rarest @FFEQE ear or nrs'rnamc nrnnooaaaon one George w. Watts, Whiting, ma, and Wallace a. Mathews, Chicago, 111., assignors to Standard Oil Company, Whiting, End, a corporation oft Kndiana Application February 9, 1931, Serial No. 514,642

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the distillation of hydrocarbon oils and refers more particularly to a method and apparatus suitable for continuously effecting the distillation of heavy hydrocarbon oils, such as petroleum residues and/or pressure tars to reduce the same to coke.

In certain types of distillation processes the oil is heated to conversion temperature in a continuously flowing stream and is passed, while so heated, to one of a plurality of reaction chambers wherein it is permitted to remain at conversion temperature for a substantial period of time. After a predetermined period of time, the stream of heated oil is diverted to another of the said plurality of chambers in order to permit isolation of the first chamber for any desired purpose, for example, the removal of heavy cokelike products therefrom. In such processes, two, three, or more reaction chambers may be so-employed. The present invention is particularly adapted to be employed in connection with processes of this type.

The invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevational view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevational view of a valve type branch connector employed in connection with the apparatus of Fig. 1 for controlling the flow of oil to or past the reaction chambers, a portion oi. the casing being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a pipe line connected to a pump 6 and leading from any suitable source of hydrocarbon oil to be subjected to conversion; for example, a reduced petroleum, crude residue or a pressure tar residuum produced by the cracking distillation of hydrocarbon petroleum oil. The oil is drawn, through line 5 by the pump 6 and is forced thereby through a line 7 and a heating coil (not shown) mounted in a suitable furnace setting, indicated diagrammatically at 9. The oil is passed through the coil under suitable pressure and is heated during its passage therethrough to a substantial conversion or cracking temperature, excessive local overheating being avoided. The heated oil flows out of the coil through a line 10 connected to a pair of lines 11 and 12. The line 12 is provided with valved (on. res-5s) branch-connectors 13, 14 and 15 from which lead branch-lines 16, 17 and 18, respectively.

The branch lines 16, 17 and 18 are provided with valves 19, 20 and 21, respectively, and communicate with the lower portion of reaction chambers 22, 23 and 24, respectively. The line 11 is connected to the line 12 at a point beyond the valved branch-connector 15 by means of a line 25. Line 12 is provided with a valve 26 at a point intermediate its connection with line 10 and the branch-connector 13 and line 11 is provided with a valve 27. a

The branch-connectors 13, 14 and 15 embody suitable valve means for establishing or interspending chambers. A suitable connector will be hereinafter more fully described.

The stream of heated oil flows from the line 10 into both lines 11 and 12, the portion fed to each line being controlled by means of valves 26 and/or. 27. One of the branch-connectors, say for example, connector 13, is operated to establish communication between the branch line 16 and line 12, the other connectors 14. and 15 being closed.

The portion of the heated oil passing from line 10 directly to header 12 will flow into line '16, and the other portion of the heated oil which is passed to line 11 will flow through line 25 and in the reverse direction through the portion of header 12 between line 25 and connector 13 (including connectors 14 and 15) into the line 16. Oil is thus received by line 16 from header 12 from both sides of valved connector 13. The oil flows into chamber 22 wherein it undergoes conversion, the vaporous products passing out of the top of chamber 22 through a valved vapor line into a vapor header 61 leading to any suitable condensing or fractionating means. When a substantial quantity of residual products, such as coke, has accumulated within the chamber 22, the connector 13 is closed and the connector 14 may be opened to permit the stream of heated oil to enter the chamber 23. The portion of the oil from line 10, diverted through line 11, will flow through line 25, past connector 15 in header 12 to connector 14 and into branch-line 1'1 and the remainder of the oil from line 10 will flow directly through header 12 and connector 13 to connector 14 and into line 17, and thence into chamber 23. The vapor products pass out of the top of chamber 23 through a valved vapor line 62 leading to the vapor manifold 61.

When it is desired to pass the stream of oil to chamber 24, connector 14 is closed and connector 15 is opened, causing a portion of the heated oil to flow through lines 11 and 25 to connector 15 and into branch line 18, and the remainder of the oil from line 10 to flow directly through line 12 past connectors 13 and 14 to connector 15 and into line 18, and thence into cham ber 24. The chamber 24 is provided with a valved vapor line 63 leading to the vapor manifold 61.

When it is desired to again feed the stream of heated oil from the coil to either of the chambers 22 or 23 either connector 13 or 14 is operated to connect line 12 with either line 16 or 17, as the case may be, and connector 15 is operated to cut ofi line 18 from communication with line 12. The oil in the portion of line 12 between connectors 15 and 13, or 15 and 14, as the case may be, which was flowing toward the connector 15 and chambers 24, will thus reverse its flow, and flow to the connector 13, or 14, as the case may be.

From the foregoing it will be seen that with the particular structure and method of operation employed, all of the main transfer line (formed by lines 10, 11, 12 and 25) leading hot oil from the coil to the branch lines 16, 17 and 18, is in use at all times carrying the oil in movement and at no time in the operation is it neces sary to permit a portion of the transfer line to remain out of use. It will be seen that it is possible to operate the process so that at no time is a pocket or body of heated oil isolated in any portion of the transfer line.

Valved lines 64, 65 and 66, leading from a source of steam, or other inert gas are connected, respectively, to branch lines 16, 17 and 18 intermediate the connectors 13, 14 and 15, and the valves 19, 20 and 21, respectively. By means of these lines, steam may be introduced into the branch lines 16, 1'7 and 18 when the connectors 13, 14 and 15 and valves 19, 20 and 21 are closed, the steam preferably being under a pressure at least equal to or somewhat greater than the pressure on the hot oil flowing through line 12, whereby any seepage of hot oil past the connectors 13, 14 and 15, when closed, into lines 16, 17 and 18 may be prevented. The steam so introduced also may be employed to sweep out oil from the lines 16, 17 and 18 when the connectors 13, 14 and 15 are closed and before valves 19, 20 and 21 are closed.

In order to preheat the chamber next to be supplied with hot oil from the coil, the following connections may be employed: Valved branch pipes 67, 68 and 69 lead from the lower portion of chambers 22, 23 and 24, respectively, to a manifold '70 connected to the vapor manifold 61 leading from the upper portion of the reaction chambers. The manifold 61 is provided with a valve 71 intermediate its connection with the upper vapor pipe 63 and the manifold '70. It will be understood that by partially, or entirely, closing the valve '71 and partially or entirely opening, as the case may be, the valves in the valved branch vapor, pipes connected to any one of the chambers, such chamber may be supplied with vapors, and thereby preheated. For example, assume that chamber 24 is being supplied with highly heated oil from the coil, and it is desired to preheat chamber 22 preparatory to supplying the highly heated oil from the coil thereto. To accomplish this, the valve 71 may be partially or entirely closed and the valves in lines 60 and 67 may be opened. All or any portion of the vapors from chamber 24 will thus flow from manifold 61 through line 60 into chamber 22, the vapors being discharged through line 67 into manifold 70 along with that portion of the vapors which is condensed in chamber 22.

A suitable form of structure for branch-connectors 13, 14 and 15 is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the said structure being more fully set forth and claimed in the co-pending application of Harold M. Madsen, filed Feb. 9, 1931, Serial No. 514,627. The embodiment so shown comprises a hollow casing 30 provided with passageways 31, 32 and 33. The sides of the casing 30 adjacent the passageways 31 and 32 are provided with annular flanges 34 and 35, respectively, which are adapted to be bolted, or otherwise secured to similar flanges (not shown) carried by the pipe line 12, already described. The portion of the casing 30 adjacent the passageway 33 is provided with an annular flange adapted to be secured to a suitable flange (not shown) carried by the lines 16, 17 and 18, already described. The upper side of the casing 30 is provided with an opening 37 through which passes a valve stem 38, the lower end of which carries a valve member 39. The stem is mounted for reciprocable movement in a plate 40 which closes the opening 37 and which is secured to an annular flange 41 formed on the casing 30.

The stem 38 is surrounded by suitable packing material 42 carried in a hollow boss 43 formed integral with the plate 40. The upper portion of the boss 43 carries a plate 44 to which is secured the lower ends 45 of a yoke 46 within the upper end of which is journaled an interiorly threaded nut 47, having threaded engagement with the upper threaded portion 48 of the stem 38. A hand wheel 49 is secured to the nut whereby the nut may be readily rotated to effect reciprocation of the stem 38. The stem 38 is prevented from rotating by means of a flange 49 secured thereto and provided with slots 50 which engage ribs 51 formed on opposite ,interior sides of the yoke 46. The valve member 39 is adapted to engage a seat ring 52 carried in the passageway 33 whereby the passageway. 33 may be placed out of communication with the interior of the chamber 30 and the passageways 31 and 32, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The lower side of the valve 39 is provided with a downwardly extending vane 53 which has a width almost equal to the diameter of the passageway 33 and which is disposed in a plane transverse to a plane passing through the passageways 31 and 32. When the valve 39 is in open position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the vane 53 functions to divide the interior of the casing 30 and yet permits the passageways 31 and 32 to be in communication with the passageway 33. The inner sides of the casing 30 are provided with opposed vertical ribs 54 which are only slightly spaced from the side edges of the vane 53 when the valve 39 is in fully open position.

From the foregoing description of the valve member, it will be seen that it is adapted to be employed to form the branch-connectors 13, 14 and 15 which are interposed in the line 12, the flanged sides 34 and 35 being connected into pipe 12 in the manner already described, and the flanged side 36 being connected to the branch pipes 16, 17-and 18 in the manner already described.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the details of specific examples, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to said details except in so far as included in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. The method of supplying heated hydrocarbon oils selectively to one of a plurality of chambers, which comprises, passing the heated oil into both ends of a passageway, opening said passageway selectively to one of said chambers while closing communication from it to the remainder, and maintaining said passageway open from each end thereof to the selected chamber, whereby oil is diverted into said chamber from both ends of the passageway and oil in the passageway is maintained in movement throughout its length.

2. The method of supplying heated hydrocarbon oil selectively to one of a plurality of chambers, which comprises passing the heated oil into both ends of a main passageway having branch passageways connected to said chambers, open ing said main passageway selectively to one of said branch passageways while closing communication from it to the remainder of said branch passageways, supplying an inert gas to said closed.

branch-passageways, and maintaining said main passageway open from each end thereof to the selected chamber, whereby oil is diverted into said open branch-passageway from both ends of said main passageway and oil in the said main passageway is maintained in movement throughout its length.

3. Apparatus for treating heated hydrocarbon oils comprising a plurality of chambers, a manifold formed with a plurality of connecting members therein adapted to permit the flow of oil therethrough, branch conduits extending from the several connecting members to the several chambers, valves disposed within the several connecting members adapted, when open, to permit the flow of oil into the respective branch conduits, and when closed, to permit the passage of oil in the manifold through the connecting members, and means for admitting oil to opposite ends of the manifold to thus direct the oil in continuous streams tending to converge within a connecting member when the valve thereof is in the open position.

4. The method of treating hydrocarbon oil that comprises heating the oil to a cracking temperature in a heating zone and transfen'ing the oil from the heating zone selectively to one of a plurality of chambers by removing the heated oil from the heating zone and delivering it into a continuous loop passageway, opening the loop passageway selectively to one of said chambers while closing communication from it to the others, maintaining the loop passageway open from the point of introduction of the oil thereinto to the selected chamber and causing the oil to flow from its point of introduction into the loop passageway in divergent streams therein and uniting the streams for introduction into the selected chamber whereby the oil throughout the said loop passageway is maintained in movement toward said chamber.

5. The method of supplying heated hydrocarbon oil selectively to one of a plurality of chambers which comprises introducing the oil under an impelling pressure into an advancing stream, thence into a continuous loop manifold, opening the loop manifold selectively to one of said chambers while closing communication from it to the others,

withdrawing oil from a point in the loop mani fold and passing it to said selected chamber.

6. Apparatus for treating heated hydrocarbon oils comprising a plurality of chambers, a loop manifold, means for introducing oil into the loop manifold to efiect flow therethrough in diverg nt streams, a plurality of connecting members wit in said loop manifold, branch conduits extending from the several connecting members to the several chambers, and valves disposed within the several connecting members adapted when open to permit flow of oil to the respective branch conduit and when closed to permit the flow of oil in the loop manifold through said connecting members.

'7. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils comprising a plurality of chambers, a loop manifold, means for heating the oil, means for introducing oil from the heating means into the loop manifold to effect flow therethrough in divergent streams, a plurality of connecting members within said loop manifold, branch conduitsextending from the several connecting members to the several chambers, and valves disposed within the several connecting members adapted-when open to permit flow of oil to the respective branch conduit and when closed to permit the flow of oil in the loop manifold through said connecting members. $5

8. The method of supplyin heated hydrocarbon oil selectively toone of a plurality of chambers which comprises introducing the oil into a continuous looppassageway, causing the oil to flow from the point of introduction in divergent streams therein, opening the loop passageway selectively to one of said chambers while closing communication from it to the others, maintaining the loop passageway open from the point of introduction of the oil thereinto to the selected chamber and uniting the streams for introduction into the selected chamber whereby the oil throughout said loop passageway is maintained in movement toward said chamber.

9. The method of supplying'heated hydrocarbon oil selectively to one of a plurality of chambers which comprises introducing the oil into a continuous circuitous main passageway having branch lines connected to the several chambers, causing the oil to flow from its point of introduction in divergent streams in said passageway, opening one of said branch lines selectively to said main passageway to cause the oil in the divergent streams to fiow into the selected branch line and chamber while closing communication from the main passageway to the other branch lines and chambers and maintaining said main passageway open from the point of introduction of the oil thereinto to the selected branch line and chamber whereby oil is directed into said selected branch line and chamber and the divergent streams of oil in the main passageway are maintained in movement toward said chamber tion in divergent streams in said passageway, opening one of said branch lines selectively to said main passageway while establishing closures at the point of junctions of the other branch lines with the main passageway to prevent the flow of oil to said other branch lines and maintaining said main passageway open from the point of introduction of the oil thereinto to the selected branch line and chamber whereby the divergent streams of oil are maintained in continuous movement throughout said main passageway flowing over said closures and being directed into the selected chamber.

11. Apparatus for treating heated oils comprising a plurality of chambers, a pump adapted to draw oil for treatment from a source of supply, a discharge line from said pump formed with. a loop manifold providing a continuous circuitous passage, branch lines extending from said loop manifold to the several chambers, means disposed in the loop manifold at the junctions of said branch lines with the loop manifold adapted to control the passage of oil from the loop manifold to any selected one of the branch lines and means' associated with each of the means disposed in the loop manifold for deflecting the oil from the manifold to the selected branch line.

12. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils comprising a plurality of chambers, a pump adapted to draw oil for treatment from a source of supply, a discharge line from said pump extending to a heating coil, means for heating said oil, a transfer line extending from the heating coil and formed with a loop manifold providing a continuous circuitous passage, branch lines extending from said loop manifold to the several chambers and means disposed in the loop manifold at the junctions of said branch lines with the loop manifold adapted to control the passage of oil from the loop manifold to any selected one of the branch lines and means associated with each of the means disposed in the loop manifold for defleeting the oil from the manifold to the selected 20 

